Harrison’s Plantation

Harrison's Plantation, together with Martin's Pond, forms an important wildlife reservoir in this part of the city. In addition to woodland areas, a pond provides habitat for breeding mallard and Canada geese. A number of other birds can be seen in the wood including great spotted woodpecker, kingfisher, nuthatch, blackcap and treecreeper. Raleigh Pond and the wet areas throughout the wood also provide excellent habitats for frogs and toads. A visit is worthwhile at any time of the year.

How to get to Harrison’s Plantation

The reserve can be entered at several points from Lambourne Drive and Old Coach Road, both off Wollaton Road (A609). It can also be approached from Martin’s Pond off Russell Avenue. If you are using SatNav, enter NG8 1GR or NG8 2BQ and follow the directions above. A circular route can be followed along a path that runs through the site from Lambourne Drive eventually connecting with Martin’s Pond.

This reserve is a predominately woodland area which links Martin’s Pond with Raleigh Pond in Wollaton. It covers 4.3 hectares and is owned by Nottingham City Council and managed by the Wildlife Trust and, together with Martin’s Pond, forms an important wildlife reservoir in this part of the city. Mixed broad-leaved woodland is thought to have been present on this site since the mid-18th century. It arose by natural regeneration from a series of ‘stew ponds’ and willow holts associated with the medieval fishery at Martin’s Pond. Until the early 1900s the wood was connected to Long Plantation, which extended for over 1km from Lambourne Drive to what is now the city’s ring road. Long Plantation was later cleared to make way for housing.

The woodland is dominated by sycamore with ash, wild cherry and oak. Damper areas support mature crack willows and alders. The understory is a sparse layer of elder and hawthorn with some regenerating cherry. The ground flora includes a number of typical woodland plants including dog’s mercury, red campion, nettle-leaved bellflower and bramble.

The eastern end of the wood surrounds Raleigh Pond which is thought to be a former clay pit and now supports breeding mallard and Canada geese. A number of other birds can be seen in the wood including great spotted woodpecker, kingfisher, nuthatch, blackcap and treecreeper. Raleigh Pond and wet areas throughout the wood provide excellent habitats for frogs, newts and toads.

A wildflower meadow has been created adjacent to Old Coach Road and the mixed hedgerows are now well established.